Cushioning mechanism



Sept. 25, 1934. D, s. BARRows CUSHIONING MECHANISM Filed May 25. 1929 WLM 17a/waa j.' mekaws l Il ,f

Patented Sept. 25, 1934 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE 1,974,596 wcUsmoNINcf MECHANISM Donald S. Barrows, Rochester, N. Y., assigner to The Symington Company, New York, N. Y., av corporation of Maryland Application May z5, 1929, serial No. 365,931

10 Claims. (Cl.` 213-22) This invention relates'tofriction shock absorb- Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the mechaing mechanism and its arrangement with railnism shown in Figure 1. way draft rigging so that it permits greater travel Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the of the coupler under buff than under draft, the line 3 3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of 5 greater coupler movement under buif being rethe arrows. 60

sisted by 'a greater shock absorbing capacity of Figure 4. is an end elevational View of the cushthe mechanism than is interposed to movement ioning mechanism with the follower casing reunder draft. t moved. y

The' principal object of `my invention, generally Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts considered,` is to provide a preferably doublebeing designated by like reference characters, 65

ended cushioning mechanism, the parts of which there is shown one embodiment of my doubleare adapted to operate in series in association ended, series, friction draft lgear 1, said gear with the sills of railway rolling stock, so that the preferably comprising a main friction member 2 mechanism will function to provide greater enhaving a body portion 3 slotted at 4 for receivergy absorbing capacity and movement under buff ing a draft `key or other stop means 5 which 70 than under draft. extends through slots 6 in cheek plates 7 con- Another object of my invention is the provision nected to associated draft sills 8 and holds the "of cushioning mechanism involving a body p0rfriction member 2 against movement under the tion with a friction post extending therefrom and action of draft forces while permitting rearward received in a freely open draft gear pocket movement thereof under the action of bufng 75 between sills, a stop member being provided for forces on account of the slots 6 being extended hOlding seid friCtGn lmember against forward rearwardly of the normal position of the key 5. movement, wedges being provided engaging said Preferably extending both ways from the slotpOst fOr generating riCtiOnal resistance, springs ted body portion 3 of the friction member1 2, and serving t0 effect release 0f the mechanism. and receiving the ends of said slot 4, are friction eol- 80 a foliewereelsing engaging the Wedges and tting `umns or posts 9 preferably double wedge shaped over the ends of Seid pest,` seid mechanism being `in cross section, as shown most clearly in Figure embraced by a yoke and limited in rearward 4, providing V-shaped notches 10 in which nt "movement by a baekstep, said yoke being c011- friction shoes or wedges 11. The friction posts 9 nected to an associated Coupler by e, draft key preferably taper slightly from the slotted portion g5 or the like. vof the friction member 2, as illustrated particular- VlA further Object 0f my inVentiOn iS the prOVii 1y in Figure 1, but the V-shaped notches 10 are desion of double-ended eushining mechanism COII'I- -sirably formed at a uniform angle between the `prsing 'a friCtiOn member formed es a' Slotted sides thereof sor that the friction surfaces on the body portion with friction posts extending both `Wedges or shoes 11 properly fit the corresponding 90 Ways therefrin, Wedges engaging sald frletlOn "friction surfaces on the posts in all positions. posts, intermediate' followers engaging thev inner For effecting release of the mechanism, coil ends of saidV wedges, release Springs diSpOsed besprings 12 are desirably provided, above and between said body portion and followers, follower 10W, @non either side of, said slot 4, thereby avoidcasings engaging' the Outer ends 0f Seid Wedges ing an increase in length of the mechanism, with and fitting over Said posts, and means for holding their' inner ends engaging abutments 13 on the "the parts 0f sa'idgear in assembled psitiOnmain friction member 2 and their outer ends en- Other objects and advantages 0f the inVentiUn gaging intermediate followers 14 formed with relating t0 the particular arrangement and C011- friction surfaces 15 engaged by corresponding surstruction ofthe various parte Will become apparfaces 16 on the friction shoes or wedges 11. If `Vent as the description proceeds. desired, pads 17 of bronze or any desired material Referring t0 the drawing illustrating my invenmaybe inserted in the frictionsurfaces 15 on the tion, the scope whereof 's-dened by the appended followers 14 to improve the wear characteristics claims. 1 of the engaging parts.

y, Figure 1 is a partial side elevational View and Disposed ateach end of the gear of the present 105 partial vertical longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment is a follower casing 18 formed with a form of my cushioning mechanism shown aspocket 19 formed by bell mouthed or outwardly sembled with associated draft rigging,portions of flaring portionsV 20 provided with friction sur- `the associated cheek platesand backsto'p'being faces 21 engaging friction surfaces 22 on the diagrammatical-ly illustrated. wedges-or shoes 11. As in connection with the 11g followers 14, the follower casings 18 may likewise be provided with wearing inserts 23 for improving the wear characteristics with respect to the associated wedges 11. In order to maintain the parts of the gear l in assembled relation even when disconnected from the associated mechanism, and to prevent the associated parts at the coupler end from separating from the gear proper when the coupler butt leaves this end of the gear under pull, two pair of rods or bolts 24 are desirably provided extending through the follower casings 18 and the abutments 13 on the main friction member 2, the pair at the front or coupler end being preferably at diagonally opposite corners from the pair at the ,rear or backstop end. Each pair of said members 24 preferably extends from the abutments 13 to one .of the follower casings 18, although if desired full length bolts may be employed. Each'bolt may be headed at one end, with a nut 25 or other securing means at the other end, or both ends may be threaded and have nuts25 or the like applied thereto.

One way of utilizing the shock absorbing mechanism is to connect it to an associated coupler 26, which, in the present embodiment, is illustrated as being a swivel butt coupler, although I do not wish to be limited to this showing, and to provide a horizontal yoke 27 surrounding the mechanism 1 and an associated rear follower 28 with the looped or rear end 29 disposed between said follower and an associated backstop 30, or other means for limiting rearward movement of the mechanism, and connecting said yoke to the coupler 26 by a front draft key 31 or other means for harnessing the parts together. It will, of course, be understood that the yoke 27 is slotted, as indicated at 32, for receiving the key 5 which connects the mechanism to the cheek plates 7 and associated draft sills 8. The cheek plates '7 may be extended forwardly and correspondingly slotted to receive the ends of the key 31. l i

From the foregoing description, it will ber seen ythat under the action of draft-forces, the main friction member 2 is held stationary by the key 5, and the coupler 26 pulls the'yoke 27 forwardly through the connecting key 31 moving the rear follower 28 and pushing the rear follower casing 18, associated friction shoesll, and intermediate follower 14 over the rear friction post 9 compressing the rear releasing springs 12, and thereby actuating only the rear cushioning mechanism or rear half of the double-ended gear 1 utilizing only one-half the total capacity of said gear which at the same time permits only one-half of the movement permitted upon a'full compression of the gear.

Under the action of buning forces, however, the butt of the coupler 26 engages the front follower casing 18 pushing it and the associated friction shoes 11 and intermediate follower 14 over the front'friction post 9, compressing the front release springs 12, simultaneously moving the main friction element 2 rearwardly so that the rear friction post 9 thereof is forced into the rear follower casing 18 sliding between the rear wedges or shoes 11 through the 'intermediate follower 14 and compressing the.. rear vreleaselsp'rings 12, so that a full compression of thefgea'r is permitted.

On account of this action under buif,fnot only is an increased energy absorbing capacity provided, f ,but a coupler travel is'permitted equal,- to vthe sum of the travels permitted by the friction elements at each end of 'the gear. Although for convenience and economy vin manufacturel the gear is desirably made symmetrical so that the travel and capacity provided by each end is substantially identical, yet this is not essential in accordance with the broad aspect of my invention, so that the capacities and travels of the two ends of the gear may be equal or different as desired.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have devised a form of cushioning mechanism which is double-ended, with the parts in each end adapted to be actuated in series preferably under the action of buffing forces while the parts at one end only are preferably actuated under the action of draft forces. Although I have shown a double-ended gear with the main friction element slotted for receiving a key, disposed between the release springs, for connecting the same to associated cheek plates and/or sills of a car, it will be understood that, if desired, a similar construction may be employed with a single ended gear as such a connection is admirably suited for connecting the main friction element with respect to the car underframe whether said element is single or double. I

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the form shown, as modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims without departing from my invention.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. 1n railway draft rigging, in combination with sills providing a freely open draft gear pocket, a double-ended draft gear comprising a body portion with a friction post extending both ways therefrom, a stop member passing through said body portion for holding it against forward movement, wedges engaging said posts, intermediate followers engaging the inner ends of said wedges, release springs disposed between said followers and the body portion, follower casings engaging outer portions of said wedges and fitting over the ends of said posts, a yokeembracing said mechanisma backstop adapted to engage the rear end of said yoke for limiting rearward movement of said mechanism, a coupler adapted to engage the forward portion of said mechanism, and a key for connecting said coupler and yoke.

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination with sills providing a freely open vdraft gear pocket, a double-ended draft gear comprising a main friction memberY formed with a friction post extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, friction shoes engaging said posts, intermediate followers engaging the inner ends lof said shoes, release springs disposed between ward movement of said mechanism, a coupler Yadapted toengage the forward end of said mechsaid coupler ing both ways therefrom, a stop member intersecting said friction member for holding it against movement in one direction, friction shoes engaging said posts, means for effecting release of said shoes, follower casings engaging said shoes and fitting over the ends of said posts, a yoke sur-V rounding said mechanism, a backstop for limiting rearward movement of said yoke and associated mechanism, a coupler disposed in abutting engagement with the forward portion of said mechanism, and means for connecting said coupier and yoke.

4. In railway draft rigging, in combination with sills, a double-ended draft gear comprising a main friction member having a body portion and friction posts extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, means intersecting said posts for preventing movement of said member in one direction while permitting movement in the other direction, friction shoes engaging said posts, release springs engaging said main friction member and acting to effect release of said shoes, follower casings engaging outer portions of said shoes and fitting over the ends of said posts, a yoke surrounding said mechanism, a backstop adapted to engage the rear end of said yoke for limiting rearward movement of said mechanism, a coupler adapted to engage the forward portion of said mechanism, and means for connecting said coupler and yoke.

5. Cushioning mechanism comprising a main friction member having a body portion with friction posts extending both ways therefrom, said body portion being slotted for receiving an associated draft key, wedges engaging said posts, intermediate followers engaging the inner ends of said wedges, release springs disposed between said followers and body portion, and follower casings engaging outer portions of said wedges and fitting over the ends of said posts.

6. Cushioning mechanism comprising a main friction member having a body portion with a friction post extending both ways therefrom, said friction member having a slot extending transversely therethrough and into said post for receiving means for connection with associated draft sills, friction shoes engaging said post, intermediate followers engaging the inner ends of said shoes, release springs disposed between said followers and body portion, follower casings engaging outer portions of said shoes and fitting over the ends of said post, and means passing through said follower casings and friction member for holding the parts assembled.

'7. Cushioning mechanism comprising a friction member with a body portion slotted to receive a. draft key and forming abutments for release springs on either side and friction posts extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom, wedges engaging said posts, intermediate followers engaging the inner ends of said wedges, release springs disposed between said followers and abutments, follower casings engaging outer portions of said wedges and fitting over the ends of said posts, and means for holding the parts of the mechanism in assembled relation comprising a pair of members extending from diagonally opposite corners of a spring abutment portion to the follower casing at the other end of the mechanism and another pair of members extending from the other diagonally opposite corners of the other abutment portion to the other follower casing.

8. C'ushioning mechanism comprising a main friction member involving a body portion with a friction column extending forwardly and one extending rearwardly therefrom, said body portion being slotted for receiving an associated draft key, wedges engaging said friction columns, resilient means acting on said wedges, and follower casings engaging outer portions of said wedges and receiving the outer ends of said columns.

9. Cushioning mechanism comprising a main friction member formed with a slot adapted to receive a draft key for connection with associated sills and friction posts extending both ways therefrom, wedge members engaging both of said posts, intermediate followers engaging the inner ends of said wedge members, resilient means acting on said followers for effecting release of the mechanism, said resilient means lying on either side of said slot to avoid increasing the length of said mechanism, and follower casings engaging said wedge members and fitting over the ends of said posts.

10. Cushioning mechanism comprising a main friction member slotted for receiving a draft key and having friction posts extending both ways from said slotted portion, wedges engaging said posts, release springs for said wedges, and follower casings engaging s aid wedges and fitting over the ends of said posts.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

